DEVIZES car dealer Jerry Swain has been sentenced to a year in prison by a judge in Swindon today.

Earlier this month Swain, 68, of Maryport Street, Devizes, pleaded guilty to ten counts of fraud when he appeared before Swindon Crown Court.

He admitted conning people out of thousands of pounds by bouncing cheques and telling car owners they would receive money from the sale of a vehicle which never materialised.

Grandfather Swain, who runs a second-hand car business from Cannings Hill Garage, also deceived a relative of a Mazda owner by claiming it had been sold.

Of the ten charges, he admitted two relating to people receiving cheques, totalling more than £1,000, which he knew would not be cleared by the banks.

Six times Swain told car owners they would receive sums of money from the sale of the vehicle which never arrived. He admitted keeping £14,450 from those victims, with each losing between £400 and £4,250.

More details to follow.